Back to Self Awareness and Impact on Others
The BOSI Quadrant is the brainchild of businessman, mentor and serial entrepreneur Joe Abraham, which he first described in detail in 2011. Abraham posits that entrepreneurship is the driving force about real positive change and success within business, and despite this, it is being repressed worldwide.
Each individual quadrant describes a type of “entrepreneur”, and often success requires a company filled with more than one if not all of these different personalities. BOSI DNA TypesBuilderThe first DNA type, Builder, is the main constituent of those who are known to be serial entrepreneurs. These are the stereotypical entrepreneurs; the ones people around the world seek to emulate but more often than not fail. However, most fail as their personalities, knowledge, skills and other traits do not match those required to be a ‘Builder’ – they just cannot think in the same way.
Abraham did also described weaknesses to each of his different DNA blocks.
OpportunistThe traits of the Opportunists are simple; they seek single opportunities to make a lot of money, as fast as possible. They need not remain and build a company – they want to make money quickly, take the cash, so they do not have to work ever again. Opportunists simply see business as the vehicle which will drive them to their final destination: wealth.
However, one weakness is the instability of this approach. Due to their impulsivity, opportunists will often see many ups and downs in terms of profit throughout their career; not every project or business will be a successful one. However, their ability to reapply themselves means that they are likely to earn money again at a later date, but this is not always a guarantee. SpecialistThe Specialists are the experts of the business world. They find one area in which they can excel, and they immerse themselves in it.
In addition, as specialists do not put themselves out there with regards to development, they may often find themselves struggling in a crowded marketplace full of innovators and risk-takers. Sometimes they will not take that extra step to put themselves out there in front of competitors, and this may be damaging in the long term as well as the short. InnovatorIn the words of Abraham, this DNA makes up the “accidental entrepreneurs” of the business world. They were doing something, or making something which they were passionate about, and it just so happened that a business sprung up a result. This often comes at the encouragement of peers, pushing them to make a business from their ideas and creations.
Their weakness is their business acumen. They have their “Eureka!” moments, but often rely on the actions of their close team to aid in the day-to-day running of their business. Business is a totally different world to innovation – and often it takes a little more than a lecture or degree to turn them into a businessman. Their mind will always be set on creating things, not making deals. CombinationsGenerally, individuals are made up of not one, but combinations of two or more of the different entrepreneurial DNA types. However, one type is usually predominant – the primary DNA.
The cross-quadrant (BI/IB, SO/OS) entrepreneurs are in perhaps the strongest starting position – that is, the weaknesses of their primary ‘DNA’ is often the strengths of their secondary, and with just a little training can make themselves into well-rounded businesspeople. However, there is also a downside to this.
Why This MattersThese different types of entrepreneurs that Abraham outlined indicate that rather than one, there are several different pathways to market – and in the future, potentially to success. Self-awareness is required to identify which kind of entrepreneur you are, to play your strengths, and to accommodate your weaknesses. However, Abraham suggests that you need not try to train yourself to be something which you are not – though this can help with certain knowledge and skill gaps – your personality predisposes you to certain strengths and weaknesses. Instead, this may often require bringing in individuals from different quadrants to fill gaps which you may not be able to fill.
Abraham suggests also that employers need to more open to different personalities and different approaches to work – there is not just one way of tackling a problem, and not one pathway to business success.
|